Molesey 5-1 Croydon - Official Match Report

Lewis Ackerman’s wonder goal was the highlight of a very fruitful afternoon for Molesey as they cruised past Croydon 5-1 in a very one sided contest at Walton Road.

The Moles were dominant from the first whistle but had to wait until midway through the first half to take the lead thanks to Tom Windsor’s close range finish.

Chances continued to fall the way of the home side and Joe Grant added a deserved second just before the hour.

Two expert finishes from Lewis Ackerman – one a definite contender for goal of the season – were sandwiched between a Luke Elliott penalty, before Nathanial Pinney’s heavily deflected effort was scant consolation for the visitors.

Windsor came in for Nick White in the only change from the side that started the two previous games, and he had the opening chance of the match, turning sharply inside the box after a corner had failed to be cleared. His shot was destined for the top corner but the Trams’ keeper John Odlum pulled off the first of a string of fine saves by tipping his shot around the post.

Joe Pratley-Jones linked up with Grant but shot high & wide and then stung the fingers of Odlum with a drive from the edge of the box. Odlum also kept out efforts from Chalke, Ackerman and Grant as the Moles ran riot, and it was no surprise when they took the lead.

Grant linked up cleverly with Elliott, who got to the byline and pulled the ball back for Windsor, who took a touch and volleyed home.

The home side’s slender lead was not a fair reflection of their dominance, and the there was a scare moments before half-time when Pinney wriggled clear on the byline and cut the ball back for the onrushing Karl Douglin, whose effort was well saved by Wester Young.

Sean Rivers short over the bar from close range shortly after the re-start as the visitors looked to gain a foothold in the game, but normal service was soon to be resumed with wave after wave of Molesey attack, and Grant scored the crucial second goal when he got on the end of Ackerman’s cut back to fire home from close range.

The second goal was the catalyst for the visitors’ heads to drop, and it took more fine goalkeeping from Odlum to keep the score respectable as he kept out efforts from Elliott and Windsor, but could do nothing about Molesey’s third goal, as a quick free kick found Grant, and despite his through ball being slightly behind Ackerman, his first touch was brought the ball under his spell and his second was a left footed drive from the edge of the box that found the top corner.

The waves of attacks continued, and the Moles were given a helping hand by an assistant when adjudging that Motley had been bundled over in the box.

It looked a slightly soft decision, but Elliott stepped up to slam home his third goal in four games to make it four.

The Moles saved the best for last, as Ackerman received a high ball into the box with his back to goal and in one fluid movement brought it under his control and flicked it over the head of a defender.

As another defender bore down on him he then lifted it over his head as well, took a touch with his head, and with Odlum racing off his line Ackerman got his instep to the ball just before the keeper and it slowly bobbled into the back of the net for a contender for… no, scrap that, for goal of the season.

Molesey continued to threaten, and Elliott sacrificed a clear shooting opportunity in order to allow Ackerman his hat-trick with a tap in, but a linesman’s flag cut short his celebrations.

The only blight on a highly successful afternoon for the Moles was their failure to keep a clean sheet – a feat not yet achieved in the league this season. There was, however, little that could have been done to prevent Pinney’s effort that appeared to be heading well wide before taking a massive deflection and spinning into the opposite corner of the goal, leaving Young with no chance.

The win sees the Moles back in the top six and nicely nestled in amongst the chasing pack at the top of the division. They’re without a midweek game but will welcome Cove to Walton Road next Saturday.

By Andrew Finch